Economic development committee recommends tax-relief for 21 Green Street redevelopment, tables historic-district zoning changes pending further review

The Economic Development Committee reported on Sept. 2 that it recommended the council grant tax-relief under the referenced redevelopment relief mechanism for a proposed apartment development at 21 Green Street and asked the council to accept one housekeeping change to historic‑district language while deferring broader zoning changes. Councilor Goodwin told the council that the committee reviewed an application (described in the committee report as seeking “7 79 e chapter 31 relief” — language used in the meeting) for redevelopment at 21 Green Street and recommended approval as presented. The committee described the proposed relief as seven years in total, structured as an initial five‑year term for redevelopment recognizing public‑good benefits and an additional two‑year term tied to providing market‑rate housing in the downtown. The committee also reviewed proposed changes to Chapter 19, Section 14 (historic district) that would have altered whether new development requires a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic District Commission (HDC) or whether the HDC would be advisory only. After extended discussion, the committee recommended against the proposed changes as they would add uncertainty and disrupt coordination between the HDC and planning bodies. The committee did support one minor housekeeping edit to clarify language; the broader proposed amendments were referred back to the council and were placed on the table for a public hearing at the council’s next meeting (Sept. 15). Councilors signaled support for the committee’s cautious approach: they preferred waiting for a comprehensive assessment from the Historic District Advisory Committee before making broader ordinance changes and agreed to proceed with the single housekeeping amendment recommended by the committee.